SPI 2k primer vaper 2.3

60 gallon compressor. 11.5 scfm @ 90 psi. It will spray a wide fan. But it is to dry. When I narrow the fan to about 2-1/2 inches it goes on nice and smooth. I did not take the fan adjuster apart.
 

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I normally adjust the fluid knob by backing it all the way out, then pull the trigger and hold it. Turn the fluid knob in until you feel it start to lift the trigger. Release the trigger and turn the fluid knob "in" another 1/2 turn. Check the fan and droplet size on paper.

If you cannot get a good full fan pattern, with consistently sized droplets through out, then I would try what Texas King said he did. Maybe you have a defective spray gun???
 
Ahh, I read it that you weren't getting a full fan no matter what. My bad. I have had similar issues with the 2k sprayin dry, usually I will add a touch of reducer and the problem goes away.

Its been brought up before about mixing cup ratio's, have you verified that the product is getting mixed correctly at 4:1?
 
@MKH The nut in the picture is not the fluid adjustment. What you loosened was the return spring. The only thing that does is let the trigger return to the closed position. The fluid nut is on the backside. Open that up if you haven't already. Counterclockwise = more fluid Clockwise = less fluid.
I have the same gun. Here is a pic of the location of the fluid knob.
20220411_170130.jpg
 
Thanks for the replies. I am pretty sure I could add reducer and it would spray fine but I purchased this with a 2.3 needle to keep from having to reduce.
Chris, I just added those pictures to show how it was delivered to me and thought this could have been the problem and if there was an adjustment on that nut and locking nut that might affect the flow. I know this is not the flow adjustment. Thanks to all who have helped.
 
Spraying SPI regular 2K with a 2.3 wide open, there is no way there should be dry spray with normal temperatures. You are overlapping your passes 50+%, correct? I have sprayed the regular 2K and Turbo 2K with tips way smaller than a 2.3, all the way down to a 1.0 touch up gun. 30 PSI may be a little high, which will make it spray a little drier, but I really feel there is a problem with the gun. I used a couple 1/8" rivet backup washers, removing the trigger, pulling out the needle just past the trigger, sliding the washers on the needle, reinstalling the trigger, and pushing the needle back in, making sure it still seated in the tip. Made a huge difference on that particular gun.
 
Yes I am going to try the washers to see if that will correct the issue. I just don’t have any thing ready for 2 k primer at this point. Leaving for a few days but this weekend I plan to try the washer idea on something.
 
After you do the gun mods, if it still sprays dry just add a little reducer and see if the problem goes away. I have sprayed a bunch of 2k primers and I'd say that spi is probably the one that always sprays driest. Now when I shoot it I mix it 4:1:.5 and it lays out nice and wet and flows out. Even the regular primer is very thick. I shoot it with my 2.5, but I have also used my 1.8 with no issues.

If its colder where you are at its gonna be even worse as far as viscosity.

I personally would set up some paper on a wall and mix up a small batch and do some testing before you go and spray some more parts. The cost of materials is getting ridiculous and I'd hate to see you waste more than you need to in able to figure this issue out.
 
take the cap off and measure how far the needle moves and if it moves with the trigger. if it does you likely have heavy chunks in the nozzle or it is just not mixed right. i rinse the nozzle every cup full . solids build up quick in the nozzle .
 
Chris, I just added those pictures to show how it was delivered to me and thought this could have been the problem and if there was an adjustment on that nut and locking nut that might affect the flow. I know this is not the flow adjustment. Thanks to all who have helped.
If you over tighten the packing nut, it can restrict movement of the needle.
 
I recently bought an Air Gunsa AZ3 HTE2 for spraying primer. Iwata makes them but they are very reasonably priced and I have sprayed both Polyester Primer and 2k primer through it without any issues.

The key for any spray gun to operate correctly is to be sure your compressor is putting out enough CFM to handle the gun's needs. For your gun you would need a minimum of 10 CFM at 30 PSI. More is better.
I have the air gunsa 2.0 for primer. Sprays the spi2k high build great. Also sprays poly but u gotta get ride of it fast
 
i'm just old school . we used the oldest gun for primer . but that was lacquer so it stayed in the gun all day . but i have shot gel-coat with my vaper and laid it smooth .
a 50 dollar gun on a 10k paint job is disposable .
 
Got a chance to look at the gun again. With no modification washers on the needle I have 3-1/2 turns of adjustment. When modifying it with the washers I have 5 turns of adjustment. The needle is definitely retracting more although I have not sprayed any primer yet. The issue now with the washer modification is the fluid flows as soon as you start to pull the trigger. You can’t just spray air at first like a normal gun. ( I use the air to blow off the panel one last time before spraying). I know it’s a cheap gun and not worth all this trouble but for some reason I need to find out what’s going on. Ha. Thanks
Mike
 
Got a chance to look at the gun again. With no modification washers on the needle I have 3-1/2 turns of adjustment. When modifying it with the washers I have 5 turns of adjustment. The needle is definitely retracting more although I have not sprayed any primer yet. The issue now with the washer modification is the fluid flows as soon as you start to pull the trigger. You can’t just spray air at first like a normal gun. ( I use the air to blow off the panel one last time before spraying). I know it’s a cheap gun and not worth all this trouble but for some reason I need to find out what’s going on. Ha. Thanks
Mike

MKH, did you ever get the gun working properly? I was thinking about getting one of them or maybe the model with the 1.8. I'd be using mine for primer also.
 
I have not had a chance to use it since the modification. I am working on a few panels now and hope to have ready for 2k by Friday. I’ll post with the results.
Mike
 
Update. I got a chance to spray some panels that I had ready for 2k. I mixed it 4:1:.5. It sprayed great out of the vaper 2.3. I guess the 10% reducer made the difference. I did not modify the gun. Hope this helps
Mike
 
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